Law students win prizes for their ‘exceptional’ performance

The prizes included work experience placements with a law firm and centre tackling gender-based violence and domestic abuse

Three outstanding third-year Law LLB students from Middlesex University have won prizes for their exceptional academic performance in the Child and Family law module.

The winners were announced after a recent Child & Family Law Symposium which featured workshops and presentations by professionals and researchers.

For her exceptional academic achievements, student Zulieka McKenzie has been awarded work experience with the Violence and Society Centre at City St George’s, University of London. She will take part in the centre’s activities and learn about ongoing research on sexual and gender-based violence and domestic abuse.

Zulieka also won the Stowe Family Law Prize for the highest coursework mark, which includes a £100 prize. 

Speaking about her awards, Zulieka said: “I was delighted to be awarded the Stowe Family Law Prize and the placement opportunity at City St George’s. As a mature law student, this recognition means a great deal to me and reflects the hard work and dedication behind my studies.

“Before studying law, I worked in childcare as a nursery nurse, and my passion for advocacy inspired my transition into law. During my studies at Middlesex University, I volunteered at St James Legal Advice Centre and completed an international legal internship in Saint Lucia, gaining valuable experience across advocacy, litigation and public justice, including supporting Raise Your Voice, a charity for women and children.

“Achieving the highest coursework mark in Child and Family Law and the second-highest overall module mark strengthened my passion for this area of law. I am excited to learn from the Violence and Society Centre team and continue developing skills for my future legal career.”

Hayley Powell, SEO Manager at Stowe Family Law, said: "The Stowe Prize reflects our commitment to supporting emerging legal talent. We are delighted to recognise students whose hard work, academic excellence and determination have set them apart, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will make in the profession."

Student Jasmine Attarian was awarded the KJ Smith Solicitors Prize for achieving the highest overall mark in the Child and Family Law module, which includes a work placement at the law firm alongside a £50 voucher.

Jasmine said: “I was truly delighted and honoured to receive the KJ Smith Solicitors Prize. To be recognised as the student with the highest overall grade in Family Law amongst a large and talented cohort of students is incredibly rewarding and is something I am very proud of.

“This recognition has given me greater confidence in my abilities and motivated me to continue pushing myself both academically and professionally.

“As I begin my legal career, I believe this recognition will serve as a reminder of what can be achieved through hard work. I am extremely grateful to KJ Smith Solicitors and Middlesex University for this recognition, and I look forward to continuing to develop my knowledge, skills and experience within the legal profession.”

Another student Noor Afsar, who was runner up, will also enjoy work experience at the Violence and Society Centre at City St George's.

She said: “I was delighted to receive the prize and the opportunity to take part in a one-day placement with the Violence and Society Centre at City St George’s, University of London. It was rewarding to have my efforts recognised, and the award has given me additional confidence in my academic and professional development.

“The placement offered a valuable opportunity to gain insight into research and policy work relating to violence and its impact on society. I believe the experience helped me develop my analytical, research and critical-thinking skills while also giving me a broader understanding of how legal knowledge can be applied in real-world contexts. As someone interested in pursuing a career in law, exposure to this type of work was extremely beneficial and will help me make more informed decisions about my future career path.”

Laura Gusatu, Partner at KJ Smith Solicitors, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring the Best Family Law Student Award at Middlesex University, and to welcome the winner to our offices for a short work experience placement with us, where they will gain valuable insight into the day-to-day workings of family law.”

The recent symposium was organised and led by the Child and Family Law students and brought together legal practitioners, researchers, students and staff for workshops, student reflections and discussions on family law, domestic violence, court reform and wider issues of justice.

Laura Gusatu, Partner at KJ Smith Solicitors, delivered a workshop titled ‘Practical Family Law in Action’, while Dr Anastasia Fadeeva from the Violence and Society Centre at City St George’s introduced students to the centre’s work on violence, health and society. The wider programme also included Christiana Rose, who spoke about her reflections on family law work experience, trade union advocacy and court reform; Elizaveta (Liza) Shesterneva, who acted as a respondent to Dr Fadeeva’s session; Dr Mia Scally, who delivered a workshop on women, child contact, intimate partner violence and abuse; and student reflections and presentations, including a presentation by third-year Law student Borislava Borisova on her research, titled ‘Shaping Family Justice: Asset Division from 1973 to No-Fault Divorce’.

Find out more about studying Law LLB (Honours) at Middlesex University.

“These opportunities give our students a chance to engage with the practical realities of family law, confronting inequality, vulnerability, violence and discrimination, alongside moral dilemmas that rarely have clear or comfortable answers.

“KJ Smith Solicitors and the Violence and Society Centre were both kind enough to create unique opportunities for Middlesex students to question, reflect and even feel uncomfortable about the roles they will play as future solicitors and barristers, navigating divorce, adoption or domestic violence, and engaging daily with social workers, psychologists, police officers and judges.

“I am particularly grateful to Laura Gusatu, Anastasia Fadeeva and the Stowe Family Law team for their continued support. Their involvement helps create the kind of legal education that allows space for questioning, for discomfort and for a more grounded and humane engagement with the law."

Yaar Dagan, Child and Family Law module leader